Detection and localization of small nuclear ribonucleoproteins (snRNPs) in trypanosomatids using anti-m(3)G antibodies

This work reports for the first time the identification and immunolocalization, by confocal and conventional indirect immunofluorescence, of m(3)G epitopes present in ribonucleoproteins of the following trypanosomatids: Trypanosoma cruzi epimastigotes of three different strains, Blastocrithidia ssp., and Leishmania major promastigotes. The identity of these epitopes and hence the specificity of the anti-m(3)G monoclonal antibody were ascertained through competition reaction with 7-methylguanosine that blocks the Ig binding sites, abolishing the fluorescence in all the parasites tested and showing a specific perinuclear localization of the snRNPs, which suggests their nuclear reimport in the parasites. Using an immunoprecipitation technique, it was also possible to confirm the presence of the trimethylguanosine epitopes in trypanosomatids.

Validation of a Leishmania infantum ELISA rapid test for serological diagnosis of Leishmania chagasi in dogs

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Detection of P. aeruginosa harboring bla(CTX-M-2), bla(GES-1) and bla(GES-5), bla(IMP-1) and bla(SPM-1) causing infections in Brazilian tertiary-care hospital

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Viral infections in workers in hospital and research laboratory settings: a comparative review of infection modes and respective biosafety aspects

Objectives: To compare modes and sources of infection and clinical and biosafety aspects of accidental viral infections in hospital workers and research laboratory staff reported in scientific articles. Methods: PubMed, Google Scholar, ISI Web of Knowledge, Scirus, and Scielo were searched (to December 2008) for reports of accidental viral infections, written in English, Portuguese, Spanish, or German; the authors' personal file of scientific articles and references from the articles retrieved in the initial search were also used. Systematic review was carried out with inclusion criteria of presence of accidental viral infection's cases information, and exclusion criteria of absence of information about the viral etiology, and at least probable mode of infection.Results: One hundred and forty-one scientific articles were obtained, 66 of which were included in the analysis. For arboviruses, 84% of the laboratory infections had aerosol as the source; for alphaviruses alone, aerosol exposure accounted for 94% of accidental infections. of laboratory arboviral infections, 15.7% were acquired percutaneously, whereas 41.6% of hospital infections were percutaneous. For airborne viruses, 81% of the infections occurred in laboratories, with hantavirus the leading causative agent. Aerosol inhalation was implicated in 96% of lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus infections, 99% of hantavirus infections, and 50% of coxsackievirus infections, but infective droplet inhalation was the leading mode of infection for severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus and the mucocutaneous mode of infection was involved in the case of infection with influenza B. For blood-borne viruses, 92% of infections occurred in hospitals and 93% of these had percutaneous mode of infection, while among laboratory infections 77% were due to infective aerosol inhalation. Among blood-borne virus infections there were six cases of particular note: three cases of acute hepatitis following hepatitis C virus infection with a short period of incubation, one laboratory case of human immunodeficiency virus infection through aerosol inhalation, one case of hepatitis following hepatitis G virus infection, and one case of fulminant hepatitis with hepatitis B virus infection following exposure of the worker's conjunctiva to hepatitis B virus e antigen-negative patient saliva. of the 12 infections with viruses with preferential mucocutaneous transmission, seven occurred percutaneously, aerosol was implicated as a possible source of infection in two cases, and one atypical infection with Macacine herpesvirus 1 with fatal encephalitis as the outcome occurred through a louse bite. One outbreak of norovirus infection among hospital staff had as its probable mode of infection the ingestion of inocula spread in the environment by fomites.Conclusions: The currently accepted and practiced risk analysis of accidental viral infections based on the conventional dynamics of infection of the etiological agents is insufficient to cope with accidental viral infections in laboratories and to a lesser extent in hospitals, where unconventional modes of infection are less frequently present but still have relevant clinical and potential epidemiological consequences. Unconventional modes of infection, atypical clinical development, or extremely severe cases are frequently present together with high viral loads and high virulence of the agents manipulated in laboratories. In hospitals by contrast, the only possible association of atypical cases is with the individual resistance of the worker. Current standard precaution practices are insufficient to prevent most of the unconventional infections in hospitals analyzed in this study; it is recommended that special attention be given to flaviviruses in these settings. (C) 2011 International Society for Infectious Diseases. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Situacao atual da quimioterapia contra a tuberculose

Actions to overcome a disease are dependant, essentially, on what is known about it. Procedures followed in the past were sometimes bizarre, but justified because of how little was known about the disease. The tuberculosis prechemotherapeutic age was somber due to the high levels of fatalities and morbidity. With the arrival of the chemotherapeutic treatment its prognosis has changed. Tuberculosis declined in the 50's and stabilized in the 80's. Nevertheless, it is back increasing alarming its numbers more than ever; probably because of some factors, among them, the public health system lack of attention and the government's policies, increasing in the migration to and from the endemic areas, development of drug multi-resistant cepa and also to the HIV infection. An universal antimycobacteria chemotherapy treatment is not accepted, maybe because of the number of drugs that are available. Modern chemotherapy, however, has an attack and a maintenance phases with the aim to eliminate the bacillus of fast and slow multiplication, respectively. The treatment period is long, when compared with other infectious diseases, that leads to the lack of compliance. In spite of the available resources in the fight against tuberculosis they seem insufficient to restrain the disease. This has forced the search for new chemotherapy alternatives to avoid strong come back of tuberculosis to the point of being called the 'white plague' well into the 21'st century.

Araçatuba virus: A vaccinialike virus associated with infection in humans and cattle

We describe a vaccinialike virus, Araçatuba virus, associated with a cowpoxlike outbreak in a dairy herd and a related case of human infection. Diagnosis was based on virus growth characteristics, electron microscopy, and molecular biology techniques. Molecular characterization of the virus was done by using polymerase chain reaction amplification, cloning, and DNA sequencing of conserved orthopoxvirus genes such as the vaccinia growth factor (VGF), thymidine kinase (TK), and hemagglutinin. We used VGF-homologous and TK gene nucleotide sequences to construct a phylogenetic tree for comparison with other poxviruses. Gene sequences showed 99% homology with vaccinia virus genes and were clustered together with the isolated virus in the phylogenetic tree. Araçatuba virus is very similar to Cantagalo virus, showing the same signature deletion in the gene. Araçatuba virus could be a novel vaccinialike virus or could represent the spread of Cantagalo virus.

Molecular typing of IberoAmerican Cryptococcus neoformans isolates

A network was established to acquire basic knowledge of Cryptococcus neoformans in IberoAmerican countries. To this effect, 340 clinical, veterinary, and environmental isolates from Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Mexico, Peru, Venezuela, Guatemala, and Spain were typed by using M13 polymerase chain reaction-fingerprinting and orotidine monophosphate pyrophosphorylase (URA5) gene restriction fragment length polymorphsm analysis with Hhal and Sau961 in a double digest. Both techniques grouped all isolates into eight previously established molecular types. The majority of the isolates, 68.2% (n=232), were VNI (var. grubii, serotype A), which accords with the fact that this variety causes most human cryptococcal infections worldwide. A smaller proportion, 5.6% (n=19), were VNII (var. grubii, serotype A); 4.1% (n=14), VNIII (AD hybrid), with 9 isolates having a polymorphism in the URA5 gene; 1.8% (n=6), VNIV (var. neoformans, serotype D); 3.5% (n=12), VGI; 6.2% (n=21), VGII; 9.1% (n=31), VGIII, and 1.5% (n=5) VGIV, with all four VG types containing var. gattii serotypes B and C isolates.

Amblyomma cajennense ticks induce immediate hypersensitivity in horses and donkeys

Since host immune reaction to ticks interferes with tick-borne pathogen transmission, it is important to recognize naturally occurring tick-host immune relationships to better understand the epidemiology of such infectious diseases. Amblyomma cajennense is an important tick-borne disease vector in the Neotropical region and horses maintain it in domestic environments. In the present work intradermal testing of A. cajennense tick exposed horses and donkeys using crude tick antigens was used to evaluate the type of hypersensitivity induced by infestations. Animals sensitized by A. cajennense infestation displayed an immediate hypersensitivity reaction at the antigen inoculation site. Foals sensitized with experimental infestations and field sensitized horses presented the most intense reactions (40% of ear thickness increase). Field sensitized donkeys presented less intense reaction reaching no more than 22% of mean thickness increase. Control horses (non-sensitized) had the least intense reaction, with a peak of no more 12% of increase. The presence of a prominent immediate hypersensitivity in equids sensitized experimentally or by field infestations indicates that A. cajennense ticks induce in this host an immune response that is associated with IgE production and which is known to be inappropriate against intracellular pathogens. Differences observed between horses and donkeys are discussed.

Human pythiosis, Brazil

Pythiosis, caused by Pythium insidiosum, occurs in humans and animals and is acquired from aquatic environments that harbor the emerging pathogen. Diagnosis is difficult because clinical and histopathologic features are not pathognomonic. We report the first human case of pythiosis from Brazil, diagnosed by using culture and rDNA sequencing.

Estudos sobre liberação controlada e vetorização de drogas através de lipossomas

The text highlights the state of research related with the application of liposomes in the control of drug delivery and drug target to infectious diseases. Liposomes have several pharmaceutical applications and this manuscript is primarily focused on the potential of this colloidal system as an antibiotic carrier system and of administration through several accesses via to organism. Numerous case studies in which liposomes have successfully been used to improve pharmacological drug effect are presented. Mechanisms involved in drug delivery, application possibilities, research and development and efforts to reach these objectives are discussed. © Copyright Moreira Jr. Editora. Todos os direitos reservados.

The β-chemokines MIP-1α and RANTES and lipoprotein metabolism in HIV-infected Brazilian patients

HIV patients are predisposed to the development of hypertriglyceridemia and hypercholesterolemia as a result of both viral infection and HIV infection therapy, especially the protease inhibitors. Chemokines and cytokines are present at sites of inflammation and can influence the nature of the inflammatory response in atherosclerosis. We investigated the correlation between biochemical variables and β-chemokines (MIP-1α and RANTES) and the apolipoprotein E genotype in HIV-infected individuals. The apolipoproteins were measured by nephelometry. Triglycerides and total cholesterol were determined by standard enzymatic procedures. The β-chemokines were detected by ELISA. The genetic category of CCR5 and apolipoprotein E were determined by PCR amplification and restriction enzymes. Immunological and virological profiles were assessed by TCD4 + and TCD8 + lymphocyte counts and viral load quantification. Positive correlations were found between apo E and CD8 + (p = 0.035), apo E and viral load (p = 0.018), MIP-1α and triglycerides (p = 0.039) and MIP-1α and VLDL (p = 0.040). Negative correlations were found between viral load and CD4 + (p = 0.05) and RANTES and CD4 + (p = 0.029). The β-chemokine levels may influence lipid metabolism in HIV-infected individuals. © 2005 by The Brazilian Journal of Infectious Diseases and Contexto Publishing. All rights reserved.

Evaluation of homologous, heterologous, and affinity conjugates for the serodiagnosis of Toxoplasma gondii and Neospora caninum in maned wolves (Chrysocyon brachyurus)

Use of serological tests in the diagnosis of infectious diseases in wild animals has several limitations, primarily the difficulty of obtaining species-specific reagents. Wild canids, such as maned wolves (Chrysocyon brachyurus), are highly predisposed to infection by Toxoplasma gondii and, to a lesser extent, to Neospora caninum. The aim of the present study was to evaluate homologous, heterologous, and affinity conjugates in enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISAs) and indirect fluorescent antibody tests (IFATs) for detecting immunoglobulin (Ig) G antibodies against T. gondii and N. caninum in maned wolves. Serum samples were obtained from 59 captive animals in Brazil and tested by ELISA for T. gondii serology and IFAT for N. caninum serology using 3 different enzymatic and fluorescent conjugates: homologous (guinea pig anti-maned wolf IgG-peroxidase and -fluorescein isothiocyanate [FITC]), heterologous (rabbit anti-dog IgG-peroxidase and -FITC), and affinity (protein A-peroxidase and -FITC). Seropositivity to T. gondii was comparable among the homologous (69.5%), heterologous (74.6%), and affinity (71.2%) enzymatic conjugates. A significant positive correlation was found between the antibody levels determined by the 3 enzymatic conjugates. The highest mean antibody levels (ELISA index = 4.5) were observed with the protein A-peroxidase conjugate. The same seropositivity to N. caninum (8.5%) was found with the homologous and heterologous fluorescent conjugates, but protein A-FITC was not able to detect or confirm any positive samples with homologous or heterologous conjugates. Our results demonstrate that homologous, heterologous, and affinity conjugates might be used in ELISA for serological assays of T. gondii in wild canids, whereas for N. caninum infection, only the homologous or heterologous fluorescent conjugates have been shown to be useful. © American Society of Parasitologists 2005.

Diphyllobothriasis, Brazil

Cases of human diphyllobothriasis have been reported worldwide. Only 1 case in Brazil was diagnosed by our institution from January 1998 to December 2003. By comparison, 18 cases were diagnosed from March 2004 to January 2005. All patients who became infected ate raw fish in sushi or sashimi.

Evaluation of the effects of different extraction methods for main volatile compounds from Bambusa textilis leaves

Bambusa textilis is widely used in popular medicine to treat all kinds of wound inflammation, chronic fever, pulmonary and infectious diseases. The aim of this study was to compare the chemical composition of the extracts of B. textilis leaves obtained by three different extraction methods: solid/liquid extraction, Soxhlet and Clevenger system using gas chromatography with flame ionization detector (GC-FID) and gas chromatography with mass spectrometry (GC-MS) analyses. The analytical characteristics of the extracts showed some differences and the GC-MS analysis indicated the presence of higher concentrations of nitro compounds and alkalis. © VSP 2005.